Boy survives savage jellyfish stings

[webfact]

Boy survives savage jellyfish stings
Phuket Gazette


Dr Lakkana Taicreau points out scar tissue on the 12-year-old boy stung by a jellyfish. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

KRABI: A Krabi boy is recovering from savage jellyfish stings sustained while fishing with his father in Ao Nang Monday evening, confirmed doctors at Krabi Provincial Hospital.

Suttitaste Tuekkuntos, 12, suffered scarring on both his calves, after diving into the water from his boat to disentangle fishing tackle.

The boy's life was possibly saved by his quick-thinking father, who treated his son with vinegar.

“When he surfaced, he called for his father to help him,” said visiting Associate Professor Lakkana Taicreau from the Department of Community Medicine, Chiang Mai University.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Boy-survives-savage-jellyfish-stings/63771?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-04-27

[masuk]

good that the father knew what to do. It's recommended treatment for most jelly fish in northern australia, and popular beaches have 1 litre bottles in special stands for emergency treatment.

[Anagami]

Everybody knows there are no box jelly fish in Thailand.

[Merylhighground]

Lucky lad that his father (who should be rewarded) knew what to do.

Will this spur a rush in learning first aid in the area or is that just my wishful thinking....?

[gomangosteen]

TAT Tourism Authority of Thailand

http://www.tatnews.org/jellyfish-warning-for-travellers-swimming-in-thailand/

Travellers visiting Thailand have been warned to be vigilant when swimming or snorkelling in Thai waters due to the season of Box Jellyfish.

Measures are being taken in all of Thailands beach resorts to keep swimmers safe. Signs warning of the dangers of jellyfish have been erected and First Aid stations have been set up to deal with any person who might have been stung.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is asking tourists to be extra careful, to remain aware and not take any risks by entering waters where signs have been posted.

Marine biologists advice is to:

Keep looking all around when in the water and try to swim with a partner. A sting can often immobilise a person, making it difficult to swim back to shore alone.

Consider wearing protective swimwear like a rash guard and swimming shoes.

Beware of seemingly dead jellyfish on the beach. If they were recently beached, they can still sting.

If in contact accidentally with a Box Jellyfish or get stung, stay calm and try to remember to take these steps:

Take the injured from the sea and keep them stay still in order to reduce the spread of poison.

Do not wash or scrub the affected area with water or suntan creams, as this will merely aggravate the sting.

Liberally apply vinegar to the affected area to reduce the toxic response. Hotels, beach restaurants and diving outfits around Thailand have been ordered to keep bottles of vinegar easily accessible as part of their First Aid preparation.

Goats Foot Creeper, which only relieves the pain, should be applied after using vinegar.

Use sand to cover the sting area and dry out any remaining tentacles.

In case the heart stops beating and there is no pulse, CPR should be primarily done to the injured.

Do seek medical care if experiencing any ongoing symptoms.

While it is extremely rare for swimmers and divers in Thailand to be stung by jellyfish, we do ask that everyone planning to swim or dive, particularly in the south of the country, to be aware that there may be jellyfish present. Do not swim if there are warning signs and always make sure of the location of the nearest First Aid centre before bathing.

Several species of jellyfish, mostly harmless, can be found seasonally in Thailand. However, Box Jellyfish are initially found off the beaches of Ko Lanta and Hat Nopparatthara Mu Ko Phi Phi National Marine Park off Krabi province, Nam Bo Bay in Phuket province and often off Hua Hin and Cha-am Beaches in Phetchaburi province, as well as Ko Tao in Chumphon province, Ko Samui, and Ko Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province.

[monkey4u]

I have seen lethal jelly fish but never a savage one

[grumpyoldman]

I have seen lethal jelly fish but never a savage one

Sure, hardy-har-har, I think the welts are pretty savage, no?

Just is some really bad luck and glad the boy did not have an allergic reaction as a young foreign girls on Lanta died from the same last year.

You hit a nest of those orange banded hornets that kill elephants, cobra bite, I mean a lot of things can happen but jelly deaths? C'mon pretty rare here.

[Mudcrab]

Thats not a box jellyfish envenomation.

Not Chironex fleckeri.

With that much coverage he would be dead if it was.

Edited April 27, 2016 by Mudcrab

[northernphil]

I don't want to appear picky but it looks more like his thighs than his calves .